Police Debunk Viral Video Claiming Officer Met Bandits in Katsina

(Police Officers Hailing Armed Bandits. Photo by Nigeria Police Force)

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed as false and misleading a narrative accompanying a viral video that alleged a uniformed police officer was seen interacting with b@ndits in Katsina State.

In a statement, the Force clarified that the individuals featured in the footage are not b@ndits but duly recognised members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters actively supporting ongoing security operations in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

The video, the Police explained, captured a routine interaction between a police officer and these security volunteers as they made their way to a designated operational area as part of efforts to combat criminality and enhance public safety.

The Force strongly condemned what it described as a deliberate distortion of facts, warning that the circulation of such misinformation risks causing public anxiety, undermining confidence in security institutions, and frustrating ongoing operations.

It urged members of the public to disregard the claims attached to the video and rely solely on information from official Police channels and other authorised government sources.

The Force also warned individuals and groups involved in creating, publishing, or spreading false information capable of prejudicing public peace and security to desist immediately, noting that appropriate legal action may be taken against violators.

It reaffirmed its commitment to working with legitimate community-based security stakeholders and relevant partners in the collective effort to protect lives and combat crime across the country.

Nigeria done finish wallahi 😭💔 police are greeting bandits on a highway. pic.twitter.com/fUIhqcVO72

— KILIYA (@musa_kiliya) June 24, 2026